Which players will not be participating in Euro 2024? Including Jack Grealish and Thibaut Courtois, here are 10 of the top stars who will be absent from the tournament in Germany.
The build-up to Euro 2024 has been filled with excitement and anticipation as managers finalized their squads before the deadline last Friday. With only 26 spots available in each national team, some high-profile players were left out, causing much debate and discussion.
One notable absence is Mats Hummels from Germany. The Borussia Dortmund centre-back had a remarkable season, leading his team to the UEFA Champions League final. However, his impressive form was not enough to convince manager Julian Nagelsmann to include him in the squad. Hummels expressed his disappointment, stating that he believes he is one of the best defenders in Germany.
Another big name missing from the Germany squad is Serge Gnabry. The Bayern Munich winger was ruled out due to injury, leaving the hosts without a key attacker who has scored 22 goals in 45 caps.
Spain’s Gavi, a talented teenager from Barcelona, will also be absent from the tournament. He suffered a torn ACL in October and has not recovered in time to make the squad. His absence has left the Spanish team devastated, with manager Luis de la Fuente describing the dressing room as a funeral parlour.
Italy’s Marco Verratti, who was a star in their Euro 2020 triumph, will not be involved this time. His decision to leave Paris Saint-Germain for Al-Arabi and reports of turning down international call-ups damaged his chances. Italy will also be missing several other key players due to injury.
In England, Jack Grealish, who played a crucial role in Manchester City’s Treble success, has been left out of the squad. Manager Gareth Southgate explained that other players had stronger seasons. Marcus Rashford, Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling, and James Maddison were also left out, showing Southgate’s willingness to make tough decisions.
Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois, who kept a clean sheet in the Champions League final, was controversially dropped by manager Domenico Tedesco. Their relationship reportedly soured, and Courtois’ long-term injury prevented him from making a comeback in time for the tournament.
Austria’s star player David Alaba will only be able to accompany the team as a non-playing captain due to a serious knee injury. France’s Christopher Nkunku, who had an injury-plagued season with Chelsea, also missed out on his first major tournament.
The Netherlands will be missing some big names due to injury, including Marten de Roon and Sven Botman. Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee, who had a sensational season, was surprisingly left out by manager Ronald Koeman.
It’s not just about players who weren’t selected; some big names will be missing because their countries didn’t qualify. Norway’s Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, Sweden’s Alexander Isak and Dejan Kulusevski, and Wales’ Brennan Johnson and Ben Davies are among the notable absentees.
Overall, the absence of these players will undoubtedly be felt and will spark much debate and discussion throughout the tournament.